Zhang Ligong and Wang Runyun, the remaining two Chinese Christians, who were imprisoned along with three other Christian leaders for "illegally crossing the national border," have regained their freedom.
China Aid, an international non-profit Christian human rights organization, reported that they were released on March 27.
The three other men who were also arrested, tried, and convicted are Zhang Yaowen, Song Shoushan and Wang Shiqiang. Shoushan served six months and was released on January 27. Meanwhile, Yaowen and Shiqiang who served seven months sentences were released on February 27.
Runyun announced his release on his social media pages. He posted, "Dear family, we are back home safely. Thank you for your prayers. I am very grateful!"
It will be recalled that in August 2021, CBN News reported that the five Christians, who are all members of the Zion Reformed Church, a house church in Taiyuan, were arrested because they attended the "KL2020 Gospel and Culture" conference in January of 2020.
They travelled using their valid passports and visas to Malaysia to attend the conference which had renowned speakers including Pastor D.A. Carson and Pastor Tim Keller in attendance.
They were tried at the Fenyang People’s Court on December 28, 2021 which had their family members at the court session. According to China Aid, they also used the opportunity to share the gospel to everyone present at their court hearing.
The court gave a final ruling on their case on January 7, 2022. Ligong and Wang Runyun were fined the equivalent of $475, Shiqiang was fined $396, and Yaowen and Shoushan, were fined $316 each.
The preacher of the house church, An Yankui, together with another church member, Zhang Chenghao, have not yet regained their freedom yet. Likewise, a date for their trial has not been fixed.
Both of them were arrested in November 2021 on the same illegal border crossing charge for attending the conference.
Although they travelled with their valid passports through legal routes, International Christian Concern stated that the Chinese government still described their travel as illegal and included other fabricated charges against them.
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